NYC Will House Inmates According to Gender Identity

Our hats off to New York’s Department of Correction (DOC) in working with Mayor De Blasio to initiate this crucial change in policy.

Starting this October, NYC will house incarcerated people according to their gender identity.

The DOC will work with the New York City Human Rights Commission (CCHR) to maintain a Transgender Housing Unit as a safe housing option for transgender inmates.

The state will also carry out individualized assessments of trans & non-gender conforming inmates to select safe and gender-affirming housing options for them. Other factors considered are previous acts of sexual abuse, previous convictions for violent offenses and history of prior institutional violence or sexual abuse.

The DOC oversees 12 inmate complexes, nine of which are located at the Rikers Island.